Roots of the Arab Revolts and Premature Celebrations
What is lacking is any attempt to provide a framework for the revolt which takes account of the large scale, long and medium term socio-economic structures as well as the immediate 'detonators' of political action. The scope and depth of the popular uprisings, as well as the diverse political and social forces which have entered into the conflicts, preclude any explanations which look at one dimension of the struggles.

Yemeni president to resign
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has tentatively agreed to a five-point plan from opposition leaders that includes the demand that he step down by the end of the year, according the president's office. Opposition figures and Saleh have reached "an initial agreement," said presidential spokesman Mohammed al-Basha.

Germany says action against Libya counterproductive
Germany is against any foreign military intervention in Libya, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Thursday. Rebels fighting against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who control large swathes of the country, have called for foreign air strikes against what they said were foreign mercenaries fighting for Gaddafi.

To the Shores of Tripoli? NATO's Inevitable War
In contrast with what is happening in Egypt and Tunisia, Libya occupies the first spot on the Human Development Index for Africa and it has the highest life expectancy on the continent. Education and health receive special attention from the State. The cultural level of its population is without a doubt the highest. Its problems are of a different sort. The population wasn't lacking food and essential social services. The country needed an abundant foreign labour force to carry out ambitious plans for production and social development.

Gaddafi accepts Chavez talks offerMuammar Gaddafi has accepted an offer from Venezuela to mediate in Libya's political crisis after talks with Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, Al Jazeera has learnt. Sources told our correspondent in Caracas that Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan's foreign minister, discussed the offer with Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, and that details of the plan could be announced by the Arab League in Cairo on Thursday.

Chavez: I won't condemn 'my friend' GadhafiVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez refused Monday to condemn Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and warned the United States was preparing an invasion of the North African country to seize control of its oil reserves.

Rebels deploy around strategic Libyan oil portMutinous army units in pickup trucks armed with machine-guns and rocket launchers deployed around the strategic oil installation at Brega today, a day after the opposition foiled an attempt by loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi to retake the port in rebel-held east Libya.

Qaddafi and the London School of Economics
As the Libyan crisis has yet to complete its first month the list lengthens of British multinationals and institutions that have taken money from Muammar Qaddafi. Even Prince Andrew, the UK's 'Ambassador for Trade', is implicated.

Farrakhan: Jews are pushing the US into warNation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said that comments he made on March 2 were meant "to pull the cover off Satan" and reveal that "Zionists dominate the US government and banks." Moreover, said the Chicago-based preacher, Jews and Zionists are "trying to push the US into war" and are a cover for Satan, at the group's annual meeting near Chicago.

According to Al Jazeera and BBC, on February 21 Libyan government inflicted airstrikes on Benghazi – the country's largest city – and on the capital Tripoli. However, the Russian military, monitoring the unrest via satellite from the very beginning, says nothing of the sort was going on on the ground. At this point, the Russian military is saying that, as far as they are concerned, the attacks some media were reporting have never occurred.

Unverified Misreporting on LibyaAmerica's media, Britain's state-controlled BBC, other Western sources, and Al Jazeera are spreading unverified or false reports on Libya's uprising.

U.S. assault ships clear Suez, enter MediterraneanTwo U.S. amphibious assault ships have reached the Mediterranean Sea, a U.S. official said on Wednesday, as Washington intensifies pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to end his four-decade rule.

Gaddafi: Libya dignity under attackLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has said that he is not a president and so cannot resign his position, and that power is in the hands of the people, during a televised public rally in the capital, Tripoli.

Fierce battles rage in LibyaForces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, are reported to have regained control of two strategic towns in the country's northwest, even as opposition fighters in the east prepare to march on the capital, Tripoli.

Gaddafi forces seize rebel held townForces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have recaptured a town in Libya's mostly rebel-held east, rebel military officers said today, in an attempt to break the momentum of a popular rebellion against his 41-year-old rule.

Explosion that suggests Gaddafi remains a force to be fearedThe truck exploded with shattering noise in the middle of the road, flames shooting out as it swung wildly on to an adjacent field before lurching to a stop. Two men on board jumped out shouting, one beating out the smoke on the jacket he was wearing.

Russia slams 'no-fly zone' plan as cracks appear in Libya strategyGovernments around the world stepped up the rhetoric against Muammar Gaddafi yesterday, hoping the weight of international pressure would further loosen his grip on power, yet cracks also started to appear in the strategy to remove him as Russia ruled out imposing no-fly zones over Libya.

Gadhafi vows to fight to last man in LibyaLibyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has vowed to fight to the "last man and last woman" to defend his country. Gadhafi was addressing supporters and foreign media on Wednesday in a conference hall in the capital Tripoli as his forces were launching a counteroffensive against parts of the rebel-held eastern half of the country.

Rebels fight Gadhafi forces over Libyan oil portForces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi battled government opponents for control of a key oil installation and an airstrip Wednesday on the Mediterranean coast in a counter-offensive against the rebel-held eastern half of the country.

West Edges Closer to Libya Military ActionThe West is edging closer to military action against Muammar Gaddafi as the United States says air strikes will be needed to secure a no-fly zone over Libya, and regime forces tried to retake a key city.

Britain and allies now risk over-reactionCriticised for reacting too slowly to the Libyan crisis, Britain and its allies now risk a dangerous, ill-thought out over-reaction in raising the prospect of direct western military intervention. If any lesson has been learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, it is that while it is very easy to get into a war in the Middle East, it is difficult to control events once engaged, and harder still to find a way out.

Rebel-held city near Tripoli celebrates battle winResidents of the rebel-held city closest to Libya's capital passed out sweets and cold drinks to fighters today and celebrated with a victory march after they managed to repel an overnight attack by pro-Gaddafi forces.

Thousands protest across YemenTens of thousands of protesters demanding the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule of Yemen joined demonstrations on Monday, while skirmishes in the south killed three soldiers and a policeman.

US military forces surronded LibyaThe US military is moving naval and air forces into position around Libya, the Pentagon said Monday, as Western countries weigh possible intervention against Moammar Qaddafi's regime.

Clinton: US sending aid teams to Libya's bordersU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. is sending assistance teams to Libya's borders with Egypt and Tunisia. The teams will help desperate refugees trying to flee a potential civil war.

US presses Europe on Libya, Germany gets toughThe United States pressed its European allies on Monday to set tough sanctions on the Libyan government, and Germany responded with a far-reaching proposal to cut off all oil and other payments to the country for 60 days so that Moammar Gadhafi's regime cannot use the money to repress his people.

Saudi activists eye protests, wait for new cabinetDemocracy activists in Saudi Arabia say the government is closely monitoring social media to nip in the bud any protests inspired by uprisings that swept Arab countries, toppling leaders in Egypt and Tunisia.

Oman protesters stage third day of unrestProtesters set a supermarket ablaze and rallied at two places in this seaside town on Monday in a third consecutive day of unrest that has included deadly clashes in the strategic Gulf nation.

US supports Bahrain 'dialogue'The US president has expressed his support for an effort at "national dialogue" in Bahrain, and said it should be "inclusive, non-sectarian and responsive" to the people of the Gulf kingdom.

Protesters defy crackdown in OmanAt least one person has been killed and 20 others injured in anti-government protests in Oman, the country's health minister said, but hospital workers put the death toll at six.

Gaddafi aide 'to talk to rivals'Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly appointed the head of Libya's foreign intelligence service to speak to the leadership of the anti-government protesters in the east of the country.

African migrants targeted in LibyaAs nations evacuate their citizens from the violence gripping Libya, many African migrant workers are targeted because they are suspected of being mercenaries hired by Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader. Dozens of workers from sub-Saharan Africa are feared killed, and hundreds are in hiding, as angry mobs of anti-government protesters hunt down "black African mercenaries," according to witnesses.

Global pressure mounts on GaddafiMore world leaders have called on Muammar Gaddafi to step down as the Libyan leader fights for his survival in the face of a mass uprising at home.

Gaddafi rivals close in on TripoliLibya's opposition movement has seized control of territory close to the capital, Tripoli, as anti-government protesters gear up for what could be a final battle for leader Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold.

Yemen President vows bloody rebuff to protestsYEMEN President Ali Abdullah Saleh is vowing to defend his three-decade regime "with every drop of blood", accusing opponents of hijacking gathering protests in a ploy to split the nation.

Plan to grab £1bn in Libyan banknotes foiledBritish authorities have thwarted an attempt to export nearly one billion pounds worth of mint Libyan banknotes back to Tripoli. Last night the Government moved to officially freeze the assets held by the Libyan regime in the UK following sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.

The Egypt-Tunisia freedom councilThe citizens of Egypt and Tunisia have resoundingly and comprehensively spoken against authoritarianism. From the joint efforts of the youth, dissidents and ordinary people, a whole gamut of potentialities was unleashed.

Saudi King Orders Permanent State Jobs For CitizensSaudi Arabia's King Abdullah ordered Sunday permanent state jobs for Saudis on temporary labor contracts amid regional uprisings that have toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and infected neighboring Bahrain.

Thousands protest in BahrainThousands of Bahrainis marched in Manama on Sunday calling for the fall of the ruling Sunni dynasty, as 18 opposition MPs submitted their letter of resignation to protest the killing of demonstrators.

Middle East unrest spreads to OmanOne protester killed by security forces in Omani town of Sohar, while Bahrain stages peaceful demonstration and Saudi intellectuals call on king to relinquish many powers.

Police station, state office burning in Oman townA police station and a government building were on fire on Sunday in the Omani town of Sohar after police clashed with more than 2,000 protesters demanding reforms in the Gulf Arab state, a Reuters witness said.

McCain, Lieberman: U.S. should arm Libyan rebelsTwo senators said today the Obama administration should recognize a provisional government that seems to be taking shape in Libya's eastern half, and offer military aid to rebels seeking to overthrow Muammar Qaddafi.

Defiant Gaddafi confined to TripoliAs more cities fall into the hands of the pro-democracy protesters, Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, is hanging on to the capital where security forces loyal to him seem to have a firm hold, even amid reports of sporadic gunfire.

Libya's revolution headquartersIn Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, life has entered a new stage of revolutionary normal. Shops have re-opened next to burnt-out regime headquarters; the main justice building still stands, but its rooms are occupied by opposition media centres, and courtrooms have become kitchens.

Behind the Arab Revolt is a Word We Dare Not SpeakShortly after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, I interviewed Ray McGovern, one of an elite group of CIA officers who prepared the President's daily intelligence brief. McGovern was at the apex of the "national security" monolith that is American power and had retired with presidential plaudits. On the eve of the invasion, he and 45 other senior officers of the CIA and other intelligence agencies wrote to President George W. Bush that the "drumbeat for war" was based not on intelligence, but lies.

Deaths in Tunisia clashesThree people dead after clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Tunis, in second day of unrest in capital.

How Gaddafi's Words Get Lost In TranslationCol Muammar Gaddafi's speeches this week will have struck many viewers as crazy and perhaps pathetic, with their overblown rhetoric, theatrical delivery and furious calls to arms against the "drug-takers" who oppose him.

Libya's UN ambassador denounces GaddafiThe Libyan ambassador to the UN, who is one of Colonel Gaddafi's oldest friends, denounced the embattled leader on Friday night and urged the world to punish him.

Pressure mounts on Libya's GaddafiMost of Libya is out of control of the government, and Muammar Gaddafi's grip on power may soon be confined only to the capital, Tripoli, Libya's former interior minister has said.

Parts of Tripoli defy Gaddafi's rulePoor neighborhoods of the Libyan capital Tripoli openly defied Muammar Gaddafi on Saturday as his grip on power after 41 years of rule looked increasingly tenuous in the face of nationwide revolt.

Rebels lay siege to Gaddafi strongholdThe beleaguered Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi defiantly appealed to his hardcore supporters to "defend the nation" against an uprising which was last night closing in on Tripoli after thousands of protesters braved gunfire to try to march through the capital.

February 25, 2011

US: Neo-Con Hawks Take Flight over LibyaIn a distinct echo of the tactics they pursued to encourage U.S. intervention in the Balkans and Iraq, a familiar clutch of neo-conservatives appealed Friday for the United States and NATO to "immediately" prepare military action to help bring down the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and end the violence that is believed to have killed well over a thousand people in the past week.

Tunisia sets poll date amid turmoilTunisia's transitional government has said it will hold elections by mid-July at the latest, the official TAP news agency has said, quoting a cabinet statement. The government "has decided that consultations with different political parties should not exceed mid-March.... Elections will be organised at the latest in mid-July 2011," the statement on Friday said.

US to impose sanctions on LibyaThe US is to impose unilateral and multilateral sanctions on Libya, the White House has announced. US spy agencies are also monitoring Libya for evidence of atrocities, Jay Carney, the White House spokesperson, announced on Friday.

UN to meet on Libya violenceThe UN Security Council will meet on Friday to consider actions against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's government that could include sanctions aimed at deterring his violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, has appeared in Tripoli's Green Square, to address a crowd of his supporters in the capital. "We can defeat any aggression if necessary and arm the people," Gaddafi said, in footage that was aired on Libyan state television on Friday. "I am in the middle of the people ... we will fight ... we will defeat them if they want ... we will defeat any foreign aggression.

Fawaz Gerges: Saudi probably won't fall, but if it does the world will changeThere is a revolution taking place in the Middle East. The young people are emboldened and confident in a way they have never been before, and what we have seen in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and Libya could yet take hold in other countries in the region. But if the revolution is going to stop anywhere, it is likely to be in the desert at the gates of the House of Saud; crucially the home of the world's greatest supply of oil.

Now we can see the folly of our Faustian bargain on oilThe price of oil is surging. At one point yesterday, the price of a barrel of crude touched $120 – its highest level since 2008. The commodities trading markets are telling the world something it should have grasped long ago: that the global economy is disastrously over-reliant on energy from the most unstable of regions.

Libyans hold mass protests in push to oust leaderThousands of Libyans demanding Moammar Gadhafi's ouster rallied to show solidarity with the besieged capital, while the government moved to tighten its grip on Tripoli following opposition gains elsewhere in the country.

Al Jazeera Enrages Dictators, Wins Viewers With CoverageArab-owned television channels Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya have been denounced by targets of the Middle Eastern revolts, showing they've played a pivotal role in the uprisings that have shaken countries from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya and Yemen.

6 killed as Iraqis protest in 'Day of Rage'Thousands marched on government buildings and clashed with security forces in cities across Iraq on Friday, in the largest and most violent anti-government protests here since political unrest began spreading in the Arab world several weeks ago.

February 24, 2011

A revolution against neoliberalism?On February 16th I read a comment was posted on the wall of the Kullina Khalid Saed ("We are all Khaled Said") Facebook page administered by the now very famous Wael Ghonim. By that time it had been there for about 21 hours. The comment referred to a news item reporting that European governments were under pressure to freeze bank accounts of recently deposed members of the Mubarak regime. The comment said: "Excellent news ... we do not want to take revenge on anyone ... it is the right of all of us to hold to account any person who has wronged this nation. By law we want the nation's money that has been stolen ... because this is the money of Egyptians, 40% of whom live below the poverty line."

Egypt/Turkey-Israel: 'A clean break'A year and a half ago, an Israel Navy submarine crossed the Suez Canal to the Red Sea, sending a message of deterrence to Iran. Just one week after the fall of Mubarak, Iranian warships cross the canal on their way to Syrian ports, notes Eric Walberg.

Chomsky: US supports stable dictatorsWeighing in on the latest developments in the Arab world, renowned American intellectual Noam Chomsky says the US policy of "stability" in the Middle East refers to "stable dictators."

Mideast turmoil rattles Iran-Saudi standoffSaudi Arabia's rulers answered the Arab world's winter of rage with money: throwing $36 billion into housing and other social assistance channels in attempts to quell rumblings of dissent. Iran's president offered more bombast as Tehran tries to project sympathy for protesters.

Setback to Gaddafi's African dreamMuammar Gaddafi, the Libyan president, has always promoted himself as one of Africa's great leaders touting a vision of progress and wealth for the entire continent. Now, after a week of violence in his country, the African Union has condemned his actions against the pro-democracy movement that demands to oust him from office. Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports from Abuja.

Libya oil output down 75 per centLIBYA'S oil output dropped 75 per cent due to the continuing unrest, the chief executive of Eni - the energy company with the biggest operations in the North African country - has said.

Gaddafi blames unrest on al-QaedaMuammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, has said in a speech on Libyan state television that al-Qaeda is responsible for the uprising in Libya. "It is obvious now that this issue is run by al-Qaeda," he said, speaking by phone from un unspecified location.

Gadhafi forces strike back at revolt near TripoliArmy units and militiamen loyal to Moammar Gadhafi struck back against rebellious protesters who have risen up in cities close to the capital Thursday, attacking a mosque where many had taken refuge and battling with others who had seized control of a local airport.

At least 26 nations have begun efforts to get their citizens out of Libya and to safety. A military Hercules aircaraft was en route to Tripoli on Thursday to collect British citizens, and Turkey says it's mounted the biggest evacuation effort in its history. An Algerian who landed safely in his home country, told Al Jazeera that it took him four days to get to the airport in Tripoli, the capital of Libya. Al Jazeera's James Bays speaks to Imran Garda after returning from Tripoli, where he heard first-hand accounts of people caught up in the violence.

February 23, 2011

Khadafi On the Outs"The worst possible consequence of the Libyan crisis would be for the United States to find some way to intervene."
Mouammar Khadafi was once the bane of the West, but in the past decade he has made an "accommodation" with imperialism. Since 9/11, "Khadafi has appeared more concerned with Islamic fundamentalists...than with American and European machinations." U.S secret services may or may not have acted against Khadafi, but they will surely take advantage of any opening.

Fidel Castro: The NATO Plan is to Occupy Libya
Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro said that the government of the United States is not in the least worried about peace in Libya and it will not hesitate in giving NATO the order to invade that rich country, perhaps in a matter of hours or a few short days. Concerning al-Gaddafi he expressed: "I cannot imagine that the Libyan leader would abandon his country".

Obama breaks silence, condemns Libya crackdownPresident Barack Obama condemned the "outrageous" crackdown by Libyan security forces on protesters and said Washington would work with international partners to hold Muammar Gaddafi's government accountable.

Why Europe Fears the North African Uprisings: The Spectre of a Black EuropeWhile millions in the world are celebrating the popular uprisings in North Africa, Europe is watching with skepticism and fear. The fall of the African dictators will deprive Europe of valuable allies in the fight against irregular migration. The political vacuum and the social and economic instability that follows will create a new wave of desperate migrants daring the high seas to reach the coats of Europe. This will deepen the immigration crisis Europe has been trying hard to manage in recent years. Europe is responding with an increased use of force. A new humanitarian crisis is looming.

Saudis call Day of Rage protests across the countryThe Saudis have posted on facebook calling for Day of Rage protests across the country on march 11 as king Abdullah promises more benefits for the citizens. The calls include that rulers should be elected and that political prisoners released . Saudis are also demanding more freedom for women.

Saudi king back home, orders $37 bln in handoutsSaudi King Abdullah returned home on Wednesday after a three-month medical absence and unveiled benefits for Saudis worth some $37 billion (23 billion pounds) in an apparent bid to insulate the world's top oil exporter from an Arab protest wave.

A crude mercantilist doctrine stands exposedDavid Cameron made a speech in the Kuwaiti parliament yesterday calling for governments across the Arab world to meet their people's legitimate aspirations for freedom. The Prime Minister also conceded that Britain had been wrong, in the past, to support repressive regimes for the sake of stability. But actions speak louder the words. Mr Cameron's address cannot conceal the fact that he is seeking to arm those very Arab leaders who would deny the people of the region their liberty.

Libyan protesters defiant after Gaddafi speechHeavy gunfire broke out in Libya's capital today as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi opened fire in the streets a day after the longtime leader vowed to defend his rule and called on supporters to crack down on anti-government protesters.

Is the West Bank next?If Binyamin Netanyahu's govenment, and its lobby in Washington, were rational they would be rushing to plan Israel's evacuation from the occupied territories, and encouraging the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Tribal system still important in Libya

Libya is one of the most tribal nations in the Arab world - a country where clans and alliances shape the political landscape. Tribal structure has played a crucial role in the country's history. Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari takes a look at the country's tribal system.

UN council to discuss LibyaAn extraordinary meeting of the Arab League will also take place on Tuesday as leaders express alarm over crackdown.

Gaddafi defies revolt with tanks, planesLibya's Muammar Gaddafi used tanks, helicopters and warplanes to fight a growing revolt, witnesses said on Tuesday, as the veteran leader scoffed at reports he was fleeing after four decades in power.

Cruel. Vainglorious. Steeped in blood. And now, surely, after more than four decades of terror and oppression, on his way out?Robert Fisk on Muammar Gaddafi, tyrant of Tripoli
So even the old, paranoid, crazed fox of Libya — the pallid, infantile, droop-cheeked dictator from Sirte, owner of his own female praetorian guard, author of the preposterous Green Book, who once announced he would ride to a Non-Aligned Movement summit in Belgrade on his white charger — is going to ground. Or gone. Last night, the man I first saw more than three decades ago, solemnly saluting a phalanx of black-uniformed frogmen as they flappered their way across the sulphur-hot tarmac of Green Square on a torrid night in Tripoli during a seven-hour military parade, appeared to be on the run at last, pursued — like the dictators of Tunis and Cairo — by his own furious people.

I will not stand again, says Sudan's BashirPresident Omar al-Bashir, the iron-fisted leader who has ruled Sudan for 22 years, will not stand for re-election, Rabie Abdul Ati, his spokesman, has told Agence-France Presse. Mr Ati denied that the decision was connected with the unrest in the region. "He is not under pressure," he said.

February 21, 2011

Tunisia Seeks Ben Ali ExtraditionTunisia has asked Saudi Arabia to extradite ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled the country last month, to face charges of ordering a deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests.

Libya's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Dabbashi, spoke to Al Jazeera. Dabbashi distanced himself from the regime of embattled president Muammar Gaddafi, saying he is "with the people".

BP suspends operations in LibyaOil giant BP said today that it was suspending operations in Libya and evacuating expatriate staff and their families amid the escalating violence.

Gaddafi regime: We will fight to the endIn a sign that the first cracks are starting to show in the Libyan regime, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son warned in a lengthy and rambling address broadcast live last night that the overthrow of the regime would lead to civil war and the break-up of the country.

Dozens reported killed in Tripoli unrestDozens of people were reported killed in Tripoli overnight as anti-government protests reached the Libyan capital for the first time and the building where the country's parliament meets was ablaze today.

Libyan tribe threatens to cut oil exports soonThe leader of the Al-Zuwayya tribe in eastern Libya threatened on Sunday to cut oil exports to Western countries within 24 hours unless authorities stop what he called the 'oppression of protesters'.

Robert Fisk: These are secular popular revolts – yet everyone is blaming religionMubarak claimed that Islamists were behind the Egyptian revolution. Ben Ali said the same in Tunisia. King Abdullah of Jordan sees a dark and sinister hand – al-Qa'ida's hand, the Muslim Brotherhood's hand, an Islamist hand – behind the civil insurrection across the Arab world. Yesterday the Bahraini authorities discovered Hizbollah's bloody hand behind the Shia uprising there. For Hizbollah, read Iran. How on earth do well-educated if singularly undemocratic men get this thing so wrong?

Riot police crack down on protesters in AlgiersAlgerian riot police used batons to disperse protesters trying to organise an anti-regime rally in a central square of the capital on Saturday. An opposition deputy wounded in the clashes is in hospital and is thought to be in a coma, his party said.

Next stop: The House of SaudHere's a crash course on how one of "our" - monarchic - dictators treats his own people during the great 2011 Arab revolt.

How Britain taught Arab police forces all they knowThere was growing anger last night over the enmeshed relationship between authoritarian Gulf governments and the British military and police after weeks of democracy protests across the Arab world that met with violent state repression.

Bullets and tear gas in BahrainI walked surreptitiously into the Manama souq after the taxi driver I had just befriended agreed to pick me up from the same spot in exactly one hour. The area was teeming with police, one guarding the main entrance with a tear gas gun strapped securely across his shoulder. It would be just a few hours later that I would feel the effects of that notorious weapon myself.

Bahrain orders military off streets of capitalBahrain today ordered its military off the square in the capital that was the heart of an uprising against the Gulf nation's rulers, a key demand by the opposition for starting a dialogue in the political crisis.

Protesters return to square in Bahrain capitalThousands of singing and dancing protesters streamed back into Manama's central Pearl Square Saturday after Bahrain's leaders withdrew tanks and riot police following two straight days of a bloody crackdown by security forces in the tiny monarchy.

Yemen: 'Government thugs' fight protesters
Thousands of protesters seeking to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh braved warning gunfire from police and attacks from government supporters with batons and daggers to march though the Sanaa, country's capital, yesterday for a seventh day.

The dangers of siding with oppressors
Things could yet get very nasty in Bahrain. Pro-democracy protesters, fuelled by the precedents in Tunisia and Egypt, are showing a high level of confidence and determination. The royal family appears to think that a brutal attack on sleeping demonstrators is the answer. For the West the old dilemma of whether it prefers stability over democracy is particularly pointed here. Bahrain is a major strategic toehold in a region that holds about three-fifths of the world's oil reserves. It is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. It has been a close ally, or client state, of Britain since the 17th century.

Bahrain tense amid funerals
Military keeps capital Manama under lockdown, a day after a deadly police assault on anti-government demonstrators.

Thousands join funerals of protesters in Bahrain
Several thousand Shi'ites turned out in Bahrain today to bury three of those killed in a crackdown ordered by the island state's Sunni ruling family to quell opposition protests inspired by Egypt.

Arab Revolutions: Why Now?
Why now? Why revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt this year, rather than last year, or ten years ago, or never? The protestors now taking to the street daily in Jordan, Yemen, Bahrein, Libya and Algeria are obviously inspired by the success of those revolutions, but what got the process started? What changed in the Middle East?

6 days Yemen uprising leaves 10 killed
Since pro-democracy protests started in Yemen 6 days ago, at least 10 protesters have been killed and many others left injured during clashes with the security forces.

Official: US to expand Yemeni military training
Faced with an increasingly alarming threat from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the U.S. military will begin a new training program with Yemen's counterterrorism unit so it can move against militants believed to be plotting attacks on America from safe havens there.

9 killed in Iraqi Kurdish protests
Nine people were killed and 47 were injured Thursday when hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces in Sulaimaniya, a city in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, according to Dr. Raykot Hamed Salih, a health official there.

Clinton tells Bahrain FM of 'deep concern'
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephoned her Bahraini counterpart on Thursday to express deep concern after police stormed a protest camp in central Manama, killing three people, the State Department said.

Four killed as riot police storm Bahrain camp
Bahrain's top diplomat says the pre-dawn crackdown on anti-government protesters was justified because the demonstrators were pushing the kingdom to the "brink of the sectarian abyss."

At Least 3 Killed, 55 Wounded in Southeastern Iraq Protests
Protests that began late last night and continued throughout the day led to a violent police crackdown in the southeastern Iraqi city of Kut. The current toll, according to local health officials, is at least three protesters slain and 55 others wounded, many of them seriously.

Thousands of police confront protesters in Yemen
Authorities flooded the streets of Yemen's capital with 2,000 police Wednesday to try to halt six days of Egypt-style demonstrations against the president of 32 years, a key U.S. ally in battling al-Qaida. One person was killed when police and protesters clashed in the southern port of Aden in the first known death during Yemen's political unrest.

Bahrain Protesters Step up Pressure on Rulers
Protesters demanding sweeping political reforms from Bahrain's rulers held their ground Wednesday in an Egypt-style occupation of the capital's landmark square, staging a third day of demonstrations that have brought unprecedented pressure in one of Washington's most strategic allies in the Gulf.

Iran opposition leader ready to 'pay any price'
Iran's opposition leaders remained defiant Wednesday despite calls from hard-liners for them to be brought to trial and put to death, with one reform advocate saying he was willing to "pay any price" in pursuit of democratic change.

Clinton praises Iran protesters
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her firm support for the Iranian opposition supporters who protested in Tehran on Monday.

Mufti warns of revolution in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabian Mufti Sheikh Yusof al-Ahmad has warned that unless the government fights poverty and unemployment, it will face a revolution like those in Egypt and Tunisia.

US sends Twitter messages to IraniansThe US State Department has begun sending Twitter messages to Iranians in Farsi, alluding to the "historic role" social media have played in mass protests against Iran's 2009 disputed presidential polls.

Clashes reported in Iran protestsThere are reports in social media sites and non-state Iranian news sites of clashes between protesters and security forces in Tehran, the Iranian capital. Thousands of demonstrators were marching on Monday on Enghelab and Azadi streets [which connect and create a straight path through the city centre], with a heavy presence in Enghelab Square and Vali-Asr Street, according to these reports.

Thousands rally across YemenSeveral injured as protesters clash with police on fourth straight day of demonstrations in capital and country's south.

Thousands of Yemenis demand president quitThousands of students and lawyers demanding Yemen's president step down clashed yesterday with baton-wielding riot police and security forces who threw up razor wire to force them out of the centre of the capital Sanaa.

Palestinians should join Arab revolution says GaddafiGaddafi, giving his first speech to Libyans since the uprising in neighbouring Egypt, said Palestinian refugees should capitalise on the revolution wave in the Middle East in a demonstration on the borders of Israel.

Gaddafi tells Palestinians: revolt against IsraelPalestinian refugees should capitalize on the wave of popular revolts in the Middle East by massing peacefully on the borders of Israel until it gives in to their demands, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Sunday.

Yemeni protesters beaten, thousands march in AlgeriaYemeni police with clubs yesterday beat anti-government protesters who were calling for the ouster of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, while thousands of Algerians defied an official ban on demonstrations in the capital and gathered in the city center for a pro-reform protest, the day after weeks of mass protests in Egypt succeeded in toppling the president.

In Yemen, Many Protests, One VillainIt was only sheer chance or serendipity perhaps that southern Yemen's "Day of Rage" was scheduled for Friday, earning the #Feb11 hashtag on Twitter. The Southern Uprising Facebook page drew nearly two thousand members since its founding two weeks ago in a nation with 2 percent Internet penetration. The group's goal is the liberation of southern Yemen from occupation–by the northern forces of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of southerners have been demonstrating nearly weekly since 2007, but Friday's appears to be the first organized on Facebook.

Scuffles have broken out at pro-democracy rallies in Algeria and Yemen following the fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.

Security forces in Yemen beat protestersYemeni police with clubs on Saturday beat anti-government protesters who were celebrating the resignation of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak and demanding the ouster of their own president.

Police tried to separate pro and anti-government demonstrators in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday.

Gap Widens Between U.S. and Arab WorldArab public opinion will become increasingly difficult for the United States to favourably influence in light of recent regional unrest, according to experts speaking at a conference organized by the Brookings Institute on Wednesday.

Gaddafi ready for Libya's "Day of Rage"Gaddafi has dealt with the calls being issued by the National Conference for the Libyan Opposition [NCLO] and Libyan [political] activists for a Libyan "Day of Rage" to take place on 17 February, modeled on similar events in Tunisia and Egypt, by issuing an unprecedented warnings against any attempts to create chaos and instability in Libya.

America loses another ally as Yemen's President quitsThe President of Yemen, one of America's foremost allies in the "war on terror", has become the latest leader in the Middle East to announce he will be stepping down as he seeks to calm anger and stave off the street protests which have gripped Egypt and Tunisia.

Thousands march against Yemen presidentTens of thousands of demonstrators, some chanting "down, down with the regime," today marched in several towns and cities in Yemen against the country's autocratic president, a key US ally in the fight against Islamic militants.

Syrian protesters plan 'day of rage'Syrians are organising campaigns on Facebook and Twitter that call for a "day of rage" in the capital Damascus this week, taking inspiration from Egypt and Tunisia in using social networking sites to rally their followers for sweeping political reforms.

Jordan's king fires Cabinet amid protests
Jordan's King Abdullah II fired his government Tuesday in the wake of street protests and asked an ex-prime minister to form a new Cabinet, ordering him to launch immediate political reforms.

January 31, 2011

Thousands in Algeria protest march: organizersMore than 10,000 protesters marched against authorities in Algeria's northeastern city of Bejaia on Saturday, organizers said, in the country's latest rally inspired by neighboring Tunisia.

Anti-government protest in Albania
TENS of thousands of demonstrators have started a silent protest in the Albanian capital Tirana, a week to the day after clashes during an opposition rally killed three.

Thousands in Algeria protest march: organizers
More than 10,000 protesters marched against authorities in Algeria's northeastern city of Bejaia on Saturday, organisers said, in the country's latest rally inspired by neighbouring Tunisia.